The owner of a Cayuga County factory raided by federal agents last week says some detained workers have been released and production is beginning to rebound.
Lenny Schmidt, co-owner of Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Ira, told The Citizen that about 10 of the 69 employees detained on Sept. 4 had been freed by the following day, with some already back on the job. He said all 230 workers were interviewed and required to show proof of citizenship or work authorization, while agents seized payroll hard drives.
He criticized the raid’s execution, which he described as involving masked agents, crowbars, dogs, and shouted commands. “They treated everybody like they were complete criminals,” he added to The Citizen. “It was insane, like a movie. We make granola nutrition bars.”
Sheriff explains office’s involvement
Meanwhile, Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck confirmed his office assisted U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the search, which was authorized by a federal judge as part of an investigation into felony-level crimes. Schenck said nine deputies were assigned to perimeter security, traffic control, and family assistance during the operation, which began around 9 a.m.
He stressed that his office was not involved in immigration enforcement and is not directly tied to the federal investigation. Schenck added that overtime costs and other expenses were reimbursed by federal agencies and that the department’s mobile command center was purchased in 2011 with federal funding.
Cayuga County Legislature Chair Jonathan Anna later said the county’s agricultural economy depends on immigrant labor, voicing concern about the scope of federal enforcement actions. He said Schenck’s limited security role did not require legislative approval.
Federal authorities have not released further details about the ongoing investigation.
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